DANFORTH MENNONITE CHURCH
416-422-2406

We welcome all guests who have joined us.

Danforth Mennonite Church
June 9, 2024  11:00 a.m.
Order of Service

Land Acknowledgement

Welcome

Call to Worship

Hymn VT #182   I sing the mighty power of God

Announcements

Offering

Hymn:   VT #365   Lord, I lift your name on high

Congregational Prayer (VT #996)

Scripture:  Genesis 1:1-31    John 1: 1-14

Hymn:  VT #177 All things bright and Beautiful

Message: Eco-Spirituality in Action

Hymn of Response: VT #436   Oh Lord, my God

Benediction

Leading Us in Worship
Message                             Michael V. D.
Worship Leader             Linda D.
Song Leader                     Kathy W.
Musicians                          Jessica M. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters                             Dalton & Carol J.
Zoom Host                        Bonnie W.
A/V Technician               Mike D.

Hymn of the month:  VT #365  Lord, I lift your name on high

Our speaker

Michael V. D. is an Anglican Deacon from the Church of St. Aidan on Queen St. East. He is a member of St. Aidan’s Eco-Spirituality group, the Anglican Social Justice and Advocacy Committee and a member of the Faith and Climate Action Coalition, a multi-faith group which is working to address climate change from a faith perspective. He has a decades-long commitment to environmental and climate advocacy recently involving keeping the Greenbelt free from development. He is currently working with Faith and Climate Action to persuade the Royal Bank of Canada to stop its huge investments in fossil fuel developments. (He has been pleased to work with Murray L. on many projects involving advocacy and climate action.)

Adult Discussion Group

Judi will be leading the conversation.

Baby and Bathwater:

Please read the Chapter entitled, 96 Images – but Who’s Counting (p21-24).

Call to Worship

Leader: In the beginning when it was very quiet, the Word was with God.

All: And the Word was God.

Leader: In the beginning when it was very dark, God said, “Let there be light”,

All: And there was light.

Leader: When the time was right, God sent the Son.

All: Christ came among us and was one of us.

Scripture Reading

Genesis 1:1-31 (NRSVUE)

Six Days of Creation and the Sabbath
1 When God began to create the heavens and the earth, ² the earth was complete chaos, and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. ³ Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. ⁴ And God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. ⁵ God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

⁶ And God said, “Let there be a dome in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” ⁷ So God made the dome and separated the waters that were under the dome from the waters that were above the dome. And it was so. ⁸ God called the dome Sky. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.

⁹ And God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. ¹⁰ God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. ¹¹ Then God said, “Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it.” And it was so. ¹² The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that it was good. ¹³ And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.

¹⁴ And God said, “Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years, ¹⁵ and let them be lights in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. ¹⁶ God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. ¹⁷ God set them in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth, ¹⁸ to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. ¹⁹ And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.

²⁰ And God said, “Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky.” ²¹ So God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, of every kind, with which the waters swarm and every winged bird of every kind. And God saw that it was good. ²² God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” ²³ And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.

²⁴ And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind: cattle and creeping things and wild animals of the earth of every kind.” And it was so. ²⁵ God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind and the cattle of every kind and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind. And God saw that it was good.

²⁶ Then God said, “Let us make humans in our image, according to our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over the cattle and over all the wild animals of the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.”

²⁷ So God created humans in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

²⁸ God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” ²⁹ God said, “See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. ³⁰ And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the air and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. ³¹ God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

John 1: 1-14 (NRSVUE)

The Word became flesh
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being ⁴ in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.

⁶ There was a man sent from God whose name was John. ⁷ He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. ⁸ He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. ⁹ The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world came into being through him, yet the world did not know him. ¹¹ He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. ¹² But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, ¹³ who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

¹⁴ And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.

DANFORTH ANNOUNCEMENTS

Ladies Walking group

We will not be walking on June 11.

Summer Hours will
commence June 30.
Our Church service will be
10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
There will be no Adult Class or
Hymn Sing during the summer.

Reminder:  Correction to DMC Directory
Barb’s unit # is 131

Treasurer’s Report: We received $6,422 in offerings in May. Our budget calls for $8,114 each month in offerings. Due mostly to the absence of a paid Pastor we now have a $19,011 operating surplus to the end of May.
 
In May there was $250 donated to the Benevolence Fund and there is now $351 in the fund. Our goal, as stated in the policy, is to have a minimum of $2,000 in the fund for future situations of need.
 
There was an additional $25 donation in memory of Salome H. which has been placed in the Professional Development Fund.
 
We have forwarded $400 from our Food Bank Designated Fund to the Neighbourhood Group who administer the 40 Teesdale Food Bank. Designated food bank donations through DMC are always welcome. We support the 40 Teesdale Food Bank and the Nourish East End Food Bank with these donations.
 
Donations to Danforth Mennonite Church are always welcome through Sunday morning offerings, mailed cheques or email transfers at dmmc2174@gmail.com. Please contact Roger H. if you would like to join the monthly giving program which happens through bank transfers on the 15th of each month. Thank you to all for your generous support for the work of our church.

Worship Schedule reminder

June 16
Message:                Carol O.
Worship leader   Linda D.
Song Leader          Dalton J.
Musicians              Jessica M. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters                John E., Anne R.
ZOOM host          Bonnie W.
A/V Tech                Murray L.

June 23
Message:                 Pieter N.
Worship leader   Sue S.
Song Leader          Sue S.
Musicians               Roger H. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters                 Vic & Mary Jane G.
ZOOM host          Bonnie W.
A/V Tech                Don B.

WIDER CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS

Save the Date
Joint Service and Potluck

at Willowgrove on August 17-18 from 10:30am – 4pm.
Swimming, wagon rides, games, and more. For more details
please visit willowgrove.ca.

Google Form for Joint Service & Picnic

Leah R.-K. will be offering a workshop titled: 
Tending Hope: supporting parents & caregivers
to talk about climate change

This is an interactive workshop to help people who love and care about the young people in their lives to have courageous and hopeful conversations about climate change.

Drawing on her book Tending Tomorrow: Courageous Change for People and Planet, Leah will provide practical examples and resources. Participants will also be encouraged to reflect on their own faith and wisdom traditions to think about what has sustained them to live in hope during times of adversity, and how they can share this with the young people in their lives.

https://www.willowgrove.ca/events/climate-change-workshop

Between the River and the Sea: A Lunch and Learn Conversation
with Jeff H.
June 25, 2024
12-1 p.m.
Community Room, 50 Kent Ave., Kitchener

Join the MCEC Palestine Israel Network Working Group as they welcome Jeff H., an Israeli anthropologist working to address injustice against Palestinian people. Jeff will speak for 30 minutes, leaving time for discussion.

Jeff is a founding member of the Palestinian-led One Democratic State Campaign (ODSC), will present the ODSC’s program for replacing Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory with a democratic state of equal rights for all – including the returning refugees. This, he argues, is the only substantially just way forward, but it is strewn with complex and difficult issues we will discuss.

More Information

The constituency-based MCEC Palestine Israel Network Working Group serves the MCEC constituency by promoting awareness and education on specific issues and topics. The information and links are those of the Working Group and do not necessarily represent MCEC as a whole.

Mennonite Church Canada Annual General Meeting
Saturday, June 22, 12:00-1:30 p.m. Central time
Online – Zoom

Join our nationwide community of faith for Mennonite Church Canada’s Annual General Meeting. Along with our business agenda, we will hear updates from our program directors, enjoy worship and reflect together as Joint Council members share what God has showed them over the past year. All are welcome. Agenda, information packet, audited financial statements, and registration portal coming soon.

In summary, upcoming events

 At Danforth

June
8  Men’s breakfast
11  Service for Gregory G.
11 Ladies walking group – CANCELLED
18  Ladies walking group
25 Ladies walking group – last walk until Sept.
30  Summer hours – service at 10:30 a.m.

August
17/18 Willowgrove joint service

Wider Church

June
22  Mennonite Church Canada AGM
25  Between the River and the Sea

Community corner

June
9  Pax Christi Chorale

DANFORTH MENNONITE CHURCH
416-422-2406
We welcome all guests who have joined us.

Danforth Mennonite Church
June 2, 2024  11:00 a.m.
Order of Service

Land Acknowledgement

Welcome/Introduction

Call to Worship

Opening prayer

Opening Hymn  VT #495 Morning has Broken

Announcements

Offering & Offertory Prayer

Hymn of the Month VT #365 Lord, I lift your name on high

Prayer Time

Scriptures:  Matthew 13:31-35, Psalm 78:1-3

Hymn:  VT #670 In the Bulb There is a Flower

Message:    Stories in need of protagonists

Closing hymn: VT #793 VT Siyahamba (We are Marching)

Benediction

Leading Us in Worship
Message                         Johnny W.
Worship Leader         Sue S.
Song Leader                 Ed F.
Musicians                      Bonnie W. (piano),  Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters                        Leslie S., Tessa R.
Zoom Host                   Mike D.
A/V Technician          Fazal S.

Hymn of the month:  VT #365  Lord, I lift your name on high

It’s hymn sing Sunday.
Please join us at 10:00 a.m. in the sanctuary to sing some new and some old favorites.
 

Our Speaker…
Johnny W. grew up rurally, in Stouffville ON, working his first jobs choring and baling at Willowgrove’s Farm, and later working as a counsellor with Glenbrook Day Camp, and an Outdoor Education instructor in the Field Trip program.

He attended Conrad Grebel where he met his now partner Leah H. – an MVSer who attended Danforth while working at Habitat for Humanity. After graduating from the University of Waterloo in Theatre and History in 2009, Johnny founded Theatre of the Beat, a Canadian touring theatre company that works to catalyze conversations on social justice. His first ever theatre production – This Prison; or He Came Through the Floor – being hosted in this very sanctuary as a fundraiser for the MVS program. In 2019, Johnny stepped down from his work with Theatre of the Beat to accept the position of Executive Director at Willowgrove, coming full circle.

Since returning to Willowgrove, Johnny’s creative work has taken a bit of a back burner, as he now oversees several charitable programs as including a nature school, outdoor education centre, a market garden, overnight camp, and day camp, and seasonal events which span across two properties, totalling 375 acres.

But that doesn’t mean he isn’t steeped in stories. Today, he’s going to reflect on one of Willowgrove’s programs in particular – one that is known for its stories. A very special place called Fraser Lake Camp.

Call to Worship

Leader: God calls us in the wind and whisper;

People: In the spirit the laughter of children and the chirping of crickets.

Leader:  God beckons u through the brilliance of stars in the night sky,

People:  The dance of sunshine on waves, and the glowing embers in a campfire.

Leader:  May we open our hearts to God’s call – to God’s Presence

May we draw near to God’s warmth and to one another,

People:  United with all creatures,  to celebrate community and praise  God.

Written by Eleanor Epp-Stobbe (Used with permission)

Scripture Reading

Matthew 13: 31-35 (CEB)

Parable of the mustard seed
³¹ He told another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and planted in his field. ³² It’s the smallest of all seeds. But when it’s grown, it’s the largest of all vegetable plants. It becomes a tree so that the birds in the sky come and nest in its branches.”

Parable of the yeast
³³ He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast, which a woman took and hid in a bushel of wheat flour until the yeast had worked its way through all the dough.”

Purpose of parables to the crowds
³⁴ Jesus said all these things to the crowds in parables, and he spoke to them only in parables. ³⁵This was to fulfill what the prophet spoke:
I’ll speak in parables;
        I’ll declare what has been hidden since the beginning of the world.

Psalm 78:1-3 (CEB)

¹Listen, my people, to my teaching;
tilt your ears toward the words of my mouth.
² I will open my mouth with a proverb.
I’ll declare riddles from days long gone—
³         ones that we’ve heard and learned about,
ones that our ancestors told us.

DANFORTH ANNOUNCEMENTS

We need to replenish our
Little Library.  Drop off your books in the cart in the lower lobby.  Please – no oversize books.
thanks

Ladies Walking group

As a group, we have not been to this park in the past.

On Tuesday, June 4 at 10:30 am (weather permitting), we will meet at Cedar Ridge Park at 225 Confederation Drive.  For those living near the church, take Kingston Road east.  Turn left onto Scarborough Golf Club Road, going north to Confederation Drive.  Turn right onto Confederation Drive.  Follow to Tingle Cres. on the right for the parking lot.  It’s approximately 26 minutes from the church.

An email will go out on Monday June 3 to confirm the place and time.

If you need to be picked up or dropped off, please check in with fellow walkers or email Bonnie.

Summer Hours will
commence June 30.
Our Church service will be
10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
There will be no Adult Class or
Hymn Sing during the summer.

Worship Schedule reminder

June 9
Message:               Michael V. D.
Worship leader  Linda D.
Song Leader         Kathy W.
Musicians              Jessica M. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters                John E., Leslie S.
ZOOM host          Bonnie W.
A/V Tech                Mike D.

June 16
Message:                Carol O.
Worship leader   Linda D.
Song Leader          Dalton J.
Musicians              Jessica M. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters                 John E., Anne R.
ZOOM host          Bonnie W.
A/V Tech                 Fazal S.

WIDER CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS

Save the Date
Joint Service and Potluck

at Willowgrove on August 17-18 from 10:30am – 4pm.

Swimming, wagon rides, games, and more.
For more details please visit willowgrove.ca.

Google Form for Joint Service & Picnic

Leah R-K. will be offering a workshop titled: 
Tending Hope: supporting parents & caregivers
to talk about climate change

This is an interactive workshop to help people who love and care about the young people in their lives to have courageous and hopeful conversations about climate change.

Drawing on her book Tending Tomorrow: Courageous Change for People and Planet, Leah will provide practical examples and resources. Participants will also be encouraged to reflect on their own faith and wisdom traditions to think about what has sustained them to live in hope during times of adversity, and how they can share this with the young people in their lives.

https://www.willowgrove.ca/events/climate-change-workshop

Between the River and the Sea:  A Lunch and Learn Conversation

with Jeff Halper
June 25, 2024
12-1 p.m.
Community Room, 50 Kent Ave., Kitchener

Join the MCEC Palestine Israel Network Working Group as they welcome Jeff Halper, an Israeli anthropologist working to address injustice against Palestinian people. Jeff will speak for 30 minutes, leaving time for discussion.

Jeff is a founding member of the Palestinian-led One Democratic State Campaign (ODSC), will present the ODSC’s program for replacing Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory with a democratic state of equal rights for all – including the returning refugees. This, he argues, is the only substantially just way forward, but it is strewn with complex and difficult issues we will discuss.

More Information

The constituency-based MCEC Palestine Israel Network Working Group serves the MCEC constituency by promoting awareness and education on specific issues and topics. The information and links are those of the Working Group and do not necessarily represent MCEC as a whole.

Mennonite Church Canada Annual General Meeting
Saturday, June 22, 12:00-1:30 p.m. Central time
Online – Zoom

Join our nationwide community of faith for Mennonite Church Canada’s Annual General Meeting. Along with our business agenda, we will hear updates from our program directors, enjoy worship and reflect together as Joint Council members share what God has showed them over the past year. All are welcome. Agenda, information packet, audited financial statements, and registration portal coming soon.

In summary, upcoming events

At Danforth
June
4  Ladies walking group – Cedar Ridge Park
8  Men’s breakfast
11 Ladies walking group
18  Ladies walking group
25 Ladies walking group – last walk until Sept.
30  Summer hours – service at 10:30 a.m.

August
17/18 Willowgrove joint service

Wider Church
June 
2  TCMC Fundraising Event

Community corner
June
1 Spring Festival
9  Pax Christi Chorale

DANFORTH MENNONITE CHURCH
416-422-2406

All are welcome

Danforth Mennonite Church
May 26, 2024
Order of Service

Welcome

Call to worship

Opening Prayer

Opening Hymn:  VT 36  Let Us Build a House                                     

Announcements

Offering and Offertory Prayer

Hymn:  VT 70 Praise God from whom all blessings flow

Hymn: VT 437  The Lord is my light

Congregational Prayer

Hymn:  VT 715  Longing for Light

Scripture  Reading:  Luke 11:5-10

Message:  Knocking on the door

Closing Hymn:  VT 722  Help Us to Help Each Other

Benediction

Leading Us in Worship
Message                             Carol O.
Worship Leader             Bonnie W.
Scripture reading          Mark C.
Song Leader                     Bonnie W.
Musicians                          Kathy W. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters                             Dalton & Carol J.
Zoom Host                        Mike D.
A/V Technician               Roger H.

Hymn of the month:  VT 437  The Lord is my light

Adult Discussion class

Baby and Bathwater:

Please read the third Chapter, “The Strategic Plan” pages 13-18.

QUESTIONS TO PONDER

1. What is Jack’s main point?
2. What did you like?
3.  What made you uneasy?

Call to Worship

Leader:  Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given you;
                   search, and you will find; knock, and the
                   door will be opened for you.”

People:  Lord, as we search now, let us find you.
                   As we knock, open the door to us.
                   Let us know you, that we may praise you;
and love you, that we may serve you.

Scripture Reading
Luke 11:5-10 (NRSVUE)

Perseverance in Prayer
⁵ And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, ⁶ for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.’ ⁷ And he answers from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ ⁸ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything out of friendship, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.

⁹ “So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

DANFORTH ANNOUNCEMENTS

We need to replenish our
Little Library.  Drop off your books in the cart in the lower lobby.  Please – no oversize books.
thanks

Ladies Walking group

On Tuesday, May 28 at 10:30 am (weather permitting), we will meet at The Guild Inn.  Entrance is off of Guildwood Parkway.

An email will go out on Monday May 27 to confirm the place and time.

If you need to be picked up or dropped off, please check in with fellow walkers or email Bonnie.

Summer Hours will
commence June 30.

Our Church service will be
10:30 – 11:30 a.m.

There will be no Adult Class or
Hymn Sing during the summer.

Worship Schedule reminder

June 2
Message:                Johnny W.
Worship leader   Sue S.
Song Leader          Ed F.
Musicians               Bonnie W. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters                 Dalton & Carol J.
ZOOM host           Mike D.
A/V Tech                 Fazal S.

June 9
Message:                  Michael V. D.
Worship leader    Linda D.
Song Leader           Kathy W.
Musicians               Jessica M. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters                  John E., Leslie S.
ZOOM host           Bonnie W.
A/V Tech                  Mike D.

DMC received this email from Pamela

Gratitude

Thank you so much for the hospitality last weekend. The welcome was a well-needed break for our pilgrims. The coffee was delicious, as were the goodies.

The Pilgrimage was a wonderful experience.

Blessings,
Pamela T.
The one who makes peace in the heavens shall make peace upon us, upon all of Israel, and upon all the peoples of the earth, and let us say, amen. The Kaddish

WIDER CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS

Join us at the 58th New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale
May 24 & 25,
New Hamburg Fairgrounds

Get ready for a weekend of excitement at the New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale! Join us for a fantastic time filled with fun, food, and the chance to reconnect with old friends while making new ones. Mark your calendars for Friday evening and Saturday as we kick off the festivities! Don’t let this chance slip by to immerse yourself in community spirit and lend your support to MCC. Visit nhmrs.com for all the details. See you there!

New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale

Save the Date
Joint Service and Potluck

at Willowgrove on August 17-18 from 10:30am – 4pm. Swimming, wagon rides, games, and more. For more details please visit willowgrove.ca.

Google Form for Joint Service & Picnic

In summary, upcoming events

At Danforth
May
25/26 Doors Open Toronto
28 Ladies walking group
June
4  Ladies walking group
8  Men’s breakfast
11 Ladies walking group
18  Ladies walking group
25 Ladies walking group – last walk until Sept.
30  Summer hours – service at 10:30 a.m.
August
17/18 Willowgrove joint service

Wider Church
May
24/25   New Hamburg MCC Mennonite relief sale

Bulletin Board
May
7-31  Lisa’s Art exhibit
June
1 Spring Festival
9  Pax Christi Chorale

DANFORTH MENNONITE CHURCH
416-422-2406

We welcome all guests who have joined us.

Danforth Mennonite Church
May 19, 2024
Order of Service

Welcome

Land Acknowledgement

Opening Prayer

Opening Hymn:  VT 366 Although Our Lord Has Left Us

Call to worship

Announcements

Offering and Offertory Prayer

Hymn: VT 211 Hope is A Candle

Congregational Prayer

Hymn:  VT 437 The Lord is my Light

Scripture  Reading:  Acts 2:1-21

Message:  And that’s how we started speaking the same language

Closing Hymn:  VT 386 One is the Body

Benediction

 Leading Us in Worship

Message                            Cedric M.
Worship Leader            Cindy R.
Scripture reading         Bethany W.
Song Leader                    Kathy W.
Musicians                         Bonnie W. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters                           Leslie S., Tessa R.
Zoom Host                      Mike D.
A/V Technician             Don B.

Our speaker this morning:

Cedric M. is the Artistic Director for Theatre of the Beat. Cedric has produced over 15 plays- including 6 of which he wrote or co-wrote. These plays have been performed hundreds of times to thousands of people across Canada and the United States, in large theatres and small intimate venues. His original work has ranged in topics from mental health, abuse, family history, life choices, and healthy masculinity.

Beyond the stage, Cedric is a passionate advocate for peace. He is frequently invited to engage communities with thought-provoking discussions on contemporary and historical peacemakers, as well as pathways to fostering peace in today’s world. Balancing his artistic endeavours with his commitment to family, Cedric finds fulfillment in his roles as a devoted father to his daughter, Calia, and husband to Alyse.

Hymn of the month:  VT 437  The Lord is my light

Discussion class update

Baby and Bathwater: This Sunday we carry on with the second chapter, Advancing Toward the End p7-11. Consider the following:

1. What is Jack trying to say?
2. Bring a phrase or sentence that stood out to you.
3. Bring a question you might have about this chapter.

Call to Worship

Leader: Come, Holy Spirit! Ignite our hearts with joy and confidence!

People: For God has done wondrous things for us.

Leader: Come, Holy Spirit! Fill us with the power of the rushing wind that we may faithfully serve you in all that we do.

People: For Christ has called each of us and blessed us!

Leader: Come, Holy Spirit! Be with us today.

People: Help us to boldly proclaim Christ Risen. AMEN.

Scripture Reading

Acts 2:1-21 (CEB)
Pentecost
2 When Pentecost Day arrived, they were all together in one place. ² Suddenly a sound from heaven like the howling of a fierce wind filled the entire house where they were sitting. ³ They saw what seemed to be individual flames of fire alighting on each one of them. ⁴ They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them to speak.

⁵ There were pious Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. ⁶ When they heard this sound, a crowd gathered. They were mystified because everyone heard them speaking in their native languages. ⁷ They were surprised and amazed, saying, “Look, aren’t all the people who are speaking Galileans, every one of them? ⁸ How then can each of us hear them speaking in our native language? ⁹ Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; as well as residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰ Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the regions of Libya bordering Cyrene; and visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism), ¹¹ Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the mighty works of God in our own languages!” ¹² They were all surprised and bewildered. Some asked each other, “What does this mean?” ¹³ Others jeered at them, saying, “They’re full of new wine!”

¹⁴ Peter stood with the other eleven apostles. He raised his voice and declared, “Judeans and everyone living in Jerusalem! Know this! Listen carefully to my words! ¹⁵ These people aren’t drunk, as you suspect; after all, it’s only nine o’clock in the morning! ¹⁶ Rather, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

¹⁷ In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
Your young will see visions.
Your elders will dream dreams.
¹⁸     Even upon my servants, men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
¹⁹ I will cause wonders to occur in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and a cloud of smoke.
²⁰ The sun will be changed into darkness,
and the moon will be changed into blood,
before the great and spectacular day of the Lord comes.
²¹ And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

DANFORTH ANNOUNCEMENTS

We need to replenish our Little Library.  Drop off your books in the cart in the lower lobby.  Please – no oversize books. thanks

Treasurer’s Report: We received $6,772 in offerings in April. Our budget calls for $8,114 each month in offerings. Due partly to the absence of a paid Pastor we now have a $18,312 operating surplus.
 
In April there was $200 donated to the Food Bank Fund. There was also an additional $50 donation in memory of Salome Harrison which has been placed in the Professional Development Fund. The Benevolence Fund received another $405 in donations.
 
There was an approved $1800 disbursement from the Benevolence Fund in April for a financial crisis situation. This need was identified by the Ministry Support Team and the Benevolence Fund Policy was used as guidance for this assistance. The Benevolence Fund now has $101 remaining and new donations to the fund are encouraged. Our goal, as stated in the policy, is to have a minimum of $2,000 in the fund for future situations of need.
 
Donations to Danforth Mennonite Church are always welcome through Sunday morning offerings, mailed cheques or email transfers at dmmc2174@gmail.com. Please contact Roger H. if you would like to join the monthly giving program which happens through bank transfers on the 15th of each month. Thank you to all for your generous support for the work of our church.

 

Worship Schedule reminder

May 26
Message:                  Carol O.
Worship leader    Bonnie W.
Song Leader           Bonnie W.
Musicians                Kathy W. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters                  Dalton & Carol J.
ZOOM host           Mike D.
A/V Tech                  Roger H.

June 2
Message:                  Johnny W.
Worship leader    Sue S.
Song Leader           Ed F.
Musicians                Bonnie W. (piano), Ray W. (tuba)
Greeters                  Dalton & Carol J.
ZOOM host           Mike D.
A/V Tech                 Fazal S.

 Doors Open Toronto
May 25 & 26

Explore Toronto’s architectural, historical, cultural and socially significant buildings for free during the Doors Open weekend. This year’s theme is hidden histories. Uncover untold stories from across the city through a variety of open house experiences, engaging tours and insightful talks.

This will be DMC’s second year participating in Doors Open Toronto.  Last year there were 235 people coming through our doors.  This year we are expecting more people as we gear our weekend to family activities, thanks to Theatre of the Beat and our 128^th Girl Guide Troupe.

We enjoyed the hymn sign last year and are doing it again on the Saturday afternoon.  If you would like to join us in the singing, please add your name to the sign-up sheet.

We need volunteers as greeters in the lower lobby, upper lobby, the sanctuary and the fellowship hall.  If you’re not up to speed on our history, no worries.  We have handouts with the information.

Sign up sheets are on the bulletin board.

Ladies Walking group

On Tuesday, May 21 at 10:30 am (weather permitting), we will meet at St. John’s Norway Cemetery.  The parking lot entrance is off of Woodbine just north of Kingston Road.

An email will go out on Monday May 20 to confirm the place and time.

If you need to be picked up or dropped off, please check in with fellow walkers or email Bonnie.

We are introducing a new section in the church bulletin – DMC Bulletin Board.  This space will be used for announcements not associated with church life.  For instance, you want to promote an event that you are putting on (e.g. garage sale, quilt show, concert etc.).

Bonnie will put the notice in this section, and if you provide a flyer, it can be posted on the bulletin board.
 
Thanks Lisa for our first posting.
 
Important:  Due to the length of our service, we would prefer that the announcements during the church service be kept to DMC and wider church-related topics.

Summer Hours will
commence June 30.
Our Church service will be
10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
There will be no Adult Class or
Hymn Sing during the summer.

WIDER CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS

Join us at the 58th New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale
May 24 & 25,
New Hamburg Fairgrounds

Get ready for a weekend of excitement at the New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale! Join us for a fantastic time filled with fun, food, and the chance to reconnect with old friends while making new ones. Mark your calendars for Friday evening and Saturday as we kick off the festivities! Don’t let this chance slip by to immerse yourself in community spirit and lend your support to MCC. Visit nhmrs.com for all the details. See you there!

New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale

You are invited to worship at SCOC.

Your presence and support are appreciated.
7:00 p.m.

May 19 – Hymn Sing

DMC BULLETIN BOARD

Come see Lisa’s work

In summary, upcoming events

At Danforth

May
21 Ladies walking group – St. Johns Norway
25/26 Doors Open Toronto
28 Ladies walking group

June
4  Ladies walking group
8  Men’s breakfast
11 Ladies walking group
18  Ladies walking group
25 Ladies walking group – last walk until Sept.
30  Summer hours – service at 10:30 a.m.

Wider Church

May
19   SCOC hymn sing
24/25   New Hamburg MCC Mennonite relief sale

DMC Bulletin Board

May
7-31  Lisa’s Art exhibit